Tropical Cyclone Statement Issued
From
Yankeetown
Sent
Thu, Sep 26 @ 5:35pm
Description
Tropical Cyclone Statement issued September 26 at 5:31PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
HLSTBW
This product covers West Central and Southwest Florida
** HURRICANE HELENE NOW A MAJOR HURRICANE AS IT PASSES WEST OF TAMPA BAY**
NEW INFORMATION
---------------
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- None
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Storm Surge Warning, Tropical Storm Warning, and Hurricane
Watch are in effect for Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee,
Coastal Sarasota, and Pinellas
- A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for
Coastal Citrus, Coastal Hernando, Coastal Levy, and Coastal
Pasco
- A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Inland Levy
- A Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch are in effect for
Inland Citrus, Inland Hernando, and Inland Pasco
- A Storm Surge Warning and Tropical Storm Warning are in effect
for Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee
- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for DeSoto, Hardee,
Highlands, Inland Charlotte, Inland Hillsborough, Inland Lee,
Inland Manatee, Inland Sarasota, Polk, and Sumter
* STORM INFORMATION:
- About 130 miles southwest of Cedar Key FL or about 110 miles
west of Mouth of Tampa Bay FL
- 27.9N 84.6W
- Storm Intensity 125 mph
- Movement North-northeast or 25 degrees at 23 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
Major Hurricane Helene is 110 miles west of the mouth of Tampa Bay. It is forecasted
to continue to strengthen through this evening as it heads for a land fall in the Big
Bend area of Florida early in the overnight period. Even though the center of the system
will be north of Tampa Bay in the next few hours the highest storm surge from Tampa Bay
and north will be during the evening and overnight hours tonight. Continued widespread
impacts are expected across West- Central and Southwest Florida through Friday morning.
* Storm Surge - Life threatening storm surge is expected today into
Friday. Potential peak surge amounts are 10 to 15 feet from
Chassahowitzka to Suwannee River, 8 to 12 feet from Anclote River to
Chassahowitzka, 5 to 8 feet from Middle of Longboat Key to Anclote
River, 4 to 7 feet from Englewood to Middle of Longboat Key, and 3 to
5 feet from Bonita Beach to Englewood. Elevated water levels are
possible through Friday.
* Flooding Rain - Flooding rain threat will run from today through
this weekend with rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches with locally
higher amounts up to 10 inches possible. Even after Helene pulls away,
additional rounds of heavy rainfall are expected this weekend.
* Wind - Hurricane and tropical storm force winds will be possible
today and tonight with the highest probabilities along the coast.
* Tornadoes - Several tornadoes are possible today and tonight across
the area.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* SURGE:
Potential impacts from the main surge event are now unfolding across
the Nature Coast, West-Central Florida, and Southwest
Florida. Remain well away from life-threatening
surge. If realized, these impacts include:
- Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly
accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural damage to
buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly compounded
from considerable floating debris. Locations may be
uninhabitable for an extended period.
- Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or
severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become
stressed.
- Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible.
- Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers.
Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted
onshore and stranded.
Elsewhere across West Central and Southwest Florida, little to no
impact is anticipated.
* WIND:
Potential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across
Nature Coast, West-Central Florida, and Southwest
Florida. Remain well sheltered from life-threatening wind.
If realized, these impacts include:
- Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having
window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural
damage. Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed.
Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be
uninhabitable for weeks.
- Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and
roadway signs blown over.
- Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
or heavily wooded places. Several bridges, causeways, and
access routes impassable.
- Large areas with power and communications outages.
* FLOODING RAIN:
Potential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across
Nature Coast, West-Central Florida, and Southwest
Florida. Remain well guarded against life-threatening flood waters.
If realized, these impacts include:
- Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues.
- Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in
multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may
become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may
become stressed.
- Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple
communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes.
Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with
underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous.
Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.
* TORNADOES:
Potential impacts from tornadoes are still unfolding across Nature Coast,
West-Central Florida, and Southwest Florida. Remain well braced against a
dangerous tornado event. If realized, these impacts include:
- The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution
of emergency plans during tropical events.
- Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots
of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures.
- Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile
homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or
uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and boats tossed about. Dangerous
projectiles can add to the toll.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------
* EVACUATIONS:
Follow the advice of local officials.
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to stay inside and away from windows. Listen for
updates and be ready in case you lose electrical power. Keep a
battery-powered radio, charged cell phone and flashlight handy.
Keep your cell phone charged and in power-saving mode. If you lose
power, use it sparingly and mainly for personal emergencies and
check-ins.
Do not be a thrill seeker or risk your life for senseless photos or
videos.
If you are prone to flooding or in an area under a storm surge watch
or warning, be prepared for the possibility of a quick and dramatic
rise in water levels.
If a tornado warning is issued for your area, quickly move to the
safest place within your shelter. Protect your head and body.
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org
NEXT UPDATE
-----------
The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Tampa Bay Ruskin FL around 12 am, or sooner if conditions
warrant.
This notification was posted by Yankeetown. Yankeetown is solely responsible for this notification and unless specifically indicated, no other community or individual utilizing Savvy Citizen is sponsoring, responsible for, or endorsing this notification.
